Priceless...

My pooch is priceless.

I spent the entire evening carving pumpkins because Philip had class.

I not only carved my pumpkin but I also cleaned his out so that when he got home at 830 it didn't have to stay up too late....even though we didnt get in bed till 11!!!

Bella seemed to really like pumpkin carving this year. I am not sure if it was because more scraps fell on the tile kitchen floor for her to snatch up or what. She has experienced 5 Halloween's so you think this one wouldnt be any different.

I was really happy with the way the pumpkins turned out... especially mine :)

Tonight we are having several friends over to help us give out the 7 lbs of candy we bought to the hundreds of trick or treater's in our neighborhood.

I made two large pots of chilli (one veggie, one regular), beer cheese bread, cornbread, pumpkin chocolate bars and the drinks will be flowing. I am looking forward to it. I spent last night slaving over the stove baking some Banana Coffee Cake Struesel before my bananas went bad and the pumpkin chocolate bars. Boy do I love Pumpkin pie spice....it makes the whole house smell delightful!

Oh happy fall...Happy Halloween...I love this time of year!

Date night...

Saturday night was declared as date night.

We try to have date night at least once a month.

Just the two of us.

Dinner and spending quality time together.

We decided to check out a newer sushi restaurant: Yama

As many of you know I have an obsession with sushi....and crave it constantly!

Yama was fantastic. The menu even breaks down the cooked vs uncooked sushi rolls which I loved! We orderd 5 rolls... yes... 5.

God, they were so good.

We ordered so much sushi that they brought it out in a BOAT!

We ate ALL 5 rolls. Please forgive us and our big apetites (we didnt eat lunch!).

Side note:.... while at dinner Eliza called me 5 times.... this is when I realized, " I better call her back...I bet she got engaged!" I was right...!

On our way home we stopped at Dean and Deluca and picked up a delectible dessert: Chocolate Dome (cookie crust, choclate ganache and some other cholocate ridiculousness that I cant remember). Our plan was to take it home and eat it and relax in our sushi, chocolate coma.

We got sidetracked. Friends were making smores at their house and that idea sounded too good to turn up so we made our way over to their house and enjoyed a lovely fall night making smores outside in the fireplace!

Date night was a great success but we never ate the chocolate dome...!

MY SISTER GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!

MY SISTER GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!

Big weekend in the Bass family.

My parents somehow were able to "keep the secret" from me....even though I had many suspicions all the way up until when my sister called to tell me Rich had proposed.

Short story....Rich asked my parents for permission. He also asked my parents to meet him and his parents in Greensboro at our family jeweler's approximately one month ago with the diamond that my grandfather left for my sister (he left each of us one). They all met for the first time and helped him pick out the gorgeous setting. They got along really well and had lunch together. All without Eliza knowing....which is a big feat!

Gorgeous Ring!

The proposal. Rich flew up to DC to see Eliza this past weekend. He has told her that he wanted to take her out to a nice dinner because he is getting ready to move up there and money would be tight and nice dinner's would be few and far between. Before they went out to dinner he presented her with a book that he put together with a song he had written for her. Rich is a musician (plays dueling pianos as a hobby etc). After he presented her with the book he proposed to her. They both went out to nice dinner in DC and celebrated! Rich fooled Eliza because she thought he was going to do it on our Cruise in 3 weeks that we were all going on. Great job Rich on pulling on over the most suspicious bride to be :) Welcome to the family!

We are so excited for Rich and Eliza. It seems so surreal. My little sister is engaged?! I was in total shock at first. I can't tell you how many times I said, "my little sister is engaged, oh wow!". Not that I didn't think this would ever happen but she is my little sister after all. Rich will gain a sister, I will gain a brother....neither of which we have either had before! Its a good thing we all get along really well :).

They are planning for an end of September early October wedding in 2009. Details will definitely follow. I will be the MATRON of Honor....Does that make me old? or Matronly? I sure hope not.

2009 is going to be filled with some AMAZING life changes....I can feel it already!

Mazel Tov to my sis and Rich on their new status: Fiance'!

Fall is definitely here and so are babies!

Last weekend I took Friday off and drove with my sister to D.C. to stay with her and to visit. We had a great time. After we made the 6 hour drive back we stopped by her apartment....

Talk about the ritz living in D.C. She pays quite a little penny for condo at The Post on Massachusets Ave, but its gorgeous. A beautiful rooftop pool and view of the city, very nice garage with her own parking spot, a state of the art gym and a continental breakfast every morning. Talk about NICE...but you pay the price!

Since she works for Red Bull, just about everywhere we go is "one of her accounts". We decided to make a trip to Annapolis for the big Boat Show that was taking place. We ate dinner at Puser's and walked around Annapolis.

It was gorgeous and reminded me so much of Charleston with all of the little shops and cute houses. What a great place! We actually spent the night at a hotel in Annapolis and walk up bright and early to head back to get a work out in before our days adventures went down. We went to Taste of Georgetown and enjoyed some Falafel from one of her clients. We also visited the Harbor which was beautiful especially since the weather could not have been perfect. Just cool enough to sit outside without wearing a jacket.

We also did a little shopping while we were in Georgetown and scored some great things at H & M and Anthropologie. I bought my sis a new snazy winter jacket and I know she was very excited about that seeing how cold DC gets in the winter. We had a great weekend spending time together just the two of us. I can't remember the last time it was JUST US.... sisters! Saturday night Eliza dropped me off to meet up with Andrea at Neiman Marcus...(her now former employer, since she gave her notice the day after I left, yippe!). We went to a dinner party with some of her co-workers and had a fantastic time dining with them at their beautiful home and eating a yummy Italian meal!

Sunday Andrea and I did NOTHING.... which is what we love to do. We got up and she made me homemade oatmeal which was delicious. . We watched T.V., football, made cookies, scones, bought mum's for her front porch and did more of nothing. It was perfect in every way. I had the best weekend with two of my bestest's and I was so glad that I made the trip to visit them all in D.C. My flight was late so I didn't end up getting back to Charlotte till midnight. My dad was out of town so I decided to spend the night with my mom. We had a sleepover which reminded me of the old days when I used to live at home.....I love my mommy.

Even though last week everyday was something like this... Wake up 50 degrees, Lunch time 80 degrees, go to bed 65 degrees.... we have officially entered fall. The cool crisp weather has arrived ALL DAY LONG and I am loving it...but it makes me want to stay in bed ha!

ps. lots of babies have been born in the past two weeks.

Isabella "Ella" McGinnis daugther of Jeff and Naomi McGinnis

Ella Grace (double name) Brady -daughter of Lauren and Shawn Brady born this Friday!

So many exciting birth's to celebrate with wonderful friends...and many more to come!!!!!

Apples and Honey

We love this time of year.
It starts to cool down, the leaves are changing colors as they slowly fall off the trees.
I especially love that I dont have to run the air conditioning or the heat....

and the Jewish Holidays are in full swing.

Last week we celebrated Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year).
We enjoyed a lovely family & friends dinner and attended services on Tuesday to welcome in the new year as we prepare for Yom Kippur (Day of Attonement that follows 10 days after Rosh Hashanah).

We also enjoyed apples and honey for a sweet new year.
I baked a fantastic Apple Coffe Cake to share with the family.
My parents invited a few of our friends to join us for dinner Erev Rosh Hashanah so we had quite a crowd! We were so glad that Tania, Hal, Pamela and Josh could all join us for a lovely dinner.


My sister and Rich come in for Yom Kippur on Wednesday of this week to join us and I am looking forward to seeing them!

L'shana Tova to ALL!